Form differences

Pokémon with official major variations between individuals are known as alternate forms. These variations all have differing sprites in the games and are recognized by the "forms" section of the Pokédex.

Starting in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, every official different form has a name given by the Pokédex; however, Arceus, Genesect and Furfrou's alternate forms were not registered in the Pokédex prior to Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. From Generation II to IV, whichever sprite is seen first will be the one displayed in the Pokédex by default; e.g., if West Sea Shellos was encountered first its sprite will appear in the Pokédex by default, whereas if East Sea Shellos was encountered first its sprite will. In Generation V, the sprite displayed in the Pokédex can be changed upon reaching Mistralton City, even to a Shiny sprite, if it has been encountered. In Generation VI, the sprite can be changed as long as the player has owned the Pokémon.

At times, these differences are purely cosmetic and have no bearing on the difference in the Pokémon's stats from another; however, several Pokémon differ in stats (other than HP), type, and Ability depending on their form. Among these are several Legendary Pokémon, whose unique forms can be changed between at will and are usually spelled as Formes (Japanese: フォルムform).

Pokémon with multiple forms

Pikachu

Cosplay Pikachu is a unique female Pikachu who has a black heart-shaped mark near the end of its tail. This unique Pikachu is able to be dressed up into five different costumes corresponding to each kind of Contest category (Coolness, Beauty, Cuteness, Cleverness, and Toughness) and learn an exclusive move associated with that Contest category. Cosplay Pikachu can switch costumes anytime. It will lose the move it had with the last costume (if it still knows it), and gain the move from the new costume. Unlike other Pikachu, it cannot evolve or breed.

If Cosplay Pikachu removes its costume while the only move it knows is the move tied to its costume, it learns Thunder Shock.

In other languages

Unown

Unown has many forms, each corresponding to a typographical character. It was the first Pokémon to have multiple forms in the games. From its debut in Generation II, there are 26 forms of Unown, each corresponding to each of the twenty-six letters of the Latin alphabet. Starting in the Generation III games, Unown has two additional forms, corresponding to the question mark and exclamation mark. These forms are not interchangeable.

In the Generation II games, Unown's form is determined by its IVs, which results in some strange phenomena; for example, in Generation II, only Unown I and V can be Shiny due to Shiniess also being determined by IVs in these games. In the Generation III games, Unown's form is determined by its personality value. From the Generation IV games onward, an independent value determines the Pokémon form.

Though the form has no bearing on base stats, punctuation Unown have different performance stats to alphabetical Unown.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

!

?

Castform

Castform has four different forms, which its AbilityForecast causes it to change between in different types of weather. It is the first Pokémon to have interchangeable forms in battle in the games.

Normally, Castform is Normal-type and has a plain appearance with a gray body. It takes on this form in clear weather, in any weather without a specific form, and if the weather has its effects negated by Cloud Nine or Air Lock.

In intense sunlight, Forecast changes Castform to its Sunny Form, which is Fire-type and resembles the sun. In rain, Forecast changes Castform to its Rainy Form, which is Water-type and resembles a raindrop. In hail, Forecast changes Castform to its Snowy Form, which is Ice-type and resembles a snowy cloud. Castform reverts to its normal form when withdrawn from battle.

In Generation III and IV, if Castform's Ability Forecast is suppressed or replaced, Castform will remain in its current form (regardless of the weather). In Generation V onward, if Castform's Ability Forecast is suppressed or replaced, Castform will revert to its normal form (regardless of the weather).

Deoxys's Normal Forme is the default form it takes, as well as the form it appears in in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. In this form, its stats are more balanced, though it is notably far more offensive than it is defensive.

Deoxys's Attack Forme has higher Attack and Special Attack than its other forms (being the non-Mega Evolved Pokémon with the highest Attack and Special Attack) and learns more offensive moves. Its Defense and Special Defense are abysmal, much lower than its Normal Form. Its Speed remains the same as its Normal Forme.

Deoxys's Defense Forme has much higher Defense and Special Defense than its other forms and learns more defensive moves. Its Attack and Special Attack are much lower than its Normal Forme, and its Speed is also significantly lower than its Normal Form.

Deoxys's Speed Forme has much higher Speed than its other forms (being the Pokémon with the highest Speed) and learns many increased priority moves.

Burmy and Wormadam

Both Burmy and its female evolution, Wormadam, have three separate forms. Burmy can change form freely, changing its cloak depending on the environment in which it last participated in a battle (so Exp. Share alone will not change its form). Wormadam cannot change form; when a Burmy evolves into Wormadam, it retains its cloak.

Apart from breeding and evolution, Burmy's cloak is purely cosmetic; conversely, different cloaks of Wormadam have different types, stats and learnsets. Bred Burmy will have the same cloak as the mother, will be in the same cloak as a Burmy or Wormadam bred with Ditto, or will be in Plant Cloak if bred from a Mothim and a Ditto.

If a Burmy last battled in a grassy area or water, it changes into its Plant Cloak. If female, Plant Cloak Burmy will evolve into Plant Cloak Wormadam, which is a Bug/Grass Pokémon. This cloak is composed of leaves and twigs.

If a Burmy last battled in a sandy or rocky area, it changes into its Sandy Cloak. If female, Sandy Cloak Burmy will evolve into Sandy Cloak Wormadam, which is a Bug/Ground Pokémon. This cloak is composed of sand and rocks.

If a Burmy last battled in a building or urban area, it changes into its Trash Cloak. If female, Trash Cloak Burmy will evolve into Trash Cloak Wormadam, which is a Bug/Steel Pokémon. This cloak is composed of pink insulation.

Shellos and Gastrodon

Shellos and Gastrodon differ in appearance depending on where it was caught. This is purely a cosmetic change, and these Pokémon cannot change between forms.

In Sinnoh, West Sea Shellos and Gastrodon are encountered west of Mt. Coronet, and are pink in color; East Sea Shellos and Gastrodon are encountered east of Mt. Coronet, and blue in color. There is also a slight difference in bodily appearance depending on the form.

Bred Shellos are the same form as their mother, or as the same form as the Shellos or Gastrodon parent if bred with Ditto.

Rotom

Rotom has five alternate forms it can change between, in addition to its normal form. To take on these alternate forms, Rotom possesses a different household appliance, and each has its own special move. These alternate forms were introduced in Pokémon Platinum.

In Generation IV, all forms of Rotom are Electric/Ghost-type; from Generation V onward, the appliance forms replace the Ghost type with the type of their associated move. All appliance forms have the same base stat total, which is higher than that of normal Rotom; the only base stat of normal Rotom that is higher than its appliance forms is its Speed.

Upon changing from an appliance form, it will forget the special move associated with that appliance form. Upon changing into an appliance form, it will learn the special move associated with the form. When changing form, if Rotom knows four moves but not the special move of its previous form, the player will be prompted to replace a move with the new exclusive move (Rotom cannot change to an appliance form unless it does). If Rotom's only known move is its special move and it changes to its normal form, then the Rotom will learn Thunder Shock. In Generation IV and V, if Rotom forgets the move that is tied to its appliance form, it changes back into its normal form; in Generation VI, Rotom can remain in an appliance form even if it forgets the associated special move.

Rotom's appliance forms first appeared as silhouettes in August 2008, shortly before the Japanese release of Pokémon Platinum, with a statement that indicated that these Pokémon would be in the game. Days before the game's release, it was revealed that these Pokémon were the alternate forms of Rotom. These new forms made their debut in Pokémon Platinum, and have been included in every core series game since.

Shaymin

Normally, Shaymin is in its Land Forme, which is Grass-type and resembles a hedgehog. When exposed to a Gracidea, Shaymin transforms into its Sky Forme, which is Grass/Flying-type and white in color; however, Shaymin's Sky Forme will change back into its Land Forme at night, while frozen, or when deposited into the PC. The Sky Forme was introduced in Pokémon Platinum.

Arceus

Arceus has eighteen different type form variations, which correspond to the eighteen different types.

Arceus's type depends on its held Plate, becoming the same type as the type that Plate enhances, remaining Normal-type when not holding a Plate.

While its base stats remain constant despite its changing type, its Pokéathlon performance differs. Additionally, it can learn Draco Meteor only while holding the Draco Plate.

In the Generation IV games, there is dummy data and a sprite programmed for a ???-typeArceus, but it cannot be obtained as there is no ???-type Plate. This data no longer exists in Generation V due to the removal of the ??? type.

Basculin

Basculin has two different forms, the Red-Striped Form and the Blue-Striped Form. The Red-Striped Form has a red stripe with wide eyes and spiky fins; the Blue-Striped Form has a blue stripe with squinted eyes and smooth fins. These forms are non-interchangable.

In Pokémon White and White 2, Blue-Striped Basculin can be encountered normally, while Red-Striped Basculin can only be encountered by surfing on or fishing in swirling water.

Bred Basculin are the same form as their mother, or as the same form as the Basculin parent if bred with Ditto.

Wild Red-Striped Basculin have a 5% chance of holding a DeepSeaTooth while wild Blue-Striped Basculin have a 5% chance of holding a DeepSeaScale.

In Pokémon Black and White, Blue-Striped Basculin have the same two standard possible Abilities as Red-Striped Basculin—Reckless and Adaptability (and is listed as such in Pokédex 3D); however, the Blue-Striped Basculin that can be obtained via in-game trade in White has the Ability Rock Head. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, wild Blue-Striped Basculin's two standard possible Abilities are Rock Head and Adaptability, while Red-Striped Basculin's stay the same (and are listed as such in Pokédex 3D Pro). However, Blue-Striped Basculin bred in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 have Reckless and Adaptability as their two standard Abilities. When a Blue-Striped Basculin with Reckless is transferred from Generation V to Generation VI, its Ability is changed to Rock Head.

Deerling and Sawsbuck

Deerling and Sawsbuck have four different interchangeable forms, each corresponding to a season. These forms are purely cosmetic.

In the Generation V games, if the player steps outside from a cave or building such that the season changes, any Deerling and Sawsbuck in their party will change form. All wild and NPC Trainer-owned Deerling and Sawsbuck will match the current season, with the exception of Trainers in the Battle Subway and the Pokémon World Tournament where these Pokémon are always in Spring Form.

In Generation VI, all wild and NPC Trainer-owned Deerling and Sawsbuck appear in Spring Form. Because seasons have been abandoned as a mechanic, Deerling and Sawsbuck do not change appearance, and their Summer, Autumn, and Winter forms must be transferred from a Generation V game.

Bred Deerling are the same form as their mother, or as the same form as the Deerling or Sawsbuck parent if bred with Ditto.

Deerling's different forms differ only in their coat.

Spring Form Deerling have a pink coat

Summer Form Deerling have a green coat

Autumn Form Deerling have an orange coat

Winter Form Deerling have a brown coat

Sawsbuck's different forms differ in significant ways, particularly their antlers.

Spring Form Sawsbuck have flowers in their antlers

Summer Form Sawsbuck have leaves in their antlers, a lack of fur at their neck and legs, a mane, and upright tail

Autumn Form Sawsbuck have wilting brown leaves in their antlers

Winter Form Sawsbuck have white antlers and sections of thicker white fur

Kyurem

In the games, Kyurem changes its form through the use of the DNA Splicers, which fuses it with Reshiram or Zekrom. The combination retains Kyurem's Poké Ball and held item. This fusion is reversible, with Reshiram or Zekrom remaining unaltered from before being fused, including whatever item it may have been holding. The DNA Splicers can only fuse one Kyurem at a time. White Kyurem and Black Kyurem cannot be deposited into Pokémon Bank.

White Kyurem has the Ability Turboblaze, learns the moves Fusion Flare and Ice Burn, and its cry is a combination of normal Kyurem and Reshiram's cries.

Keldeo

Keldeo has two interchangeable forms: Ordinary Form and Resolute Form. These forms are mostly cosmetic. The Resolute Form was introduced in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.

If Keldeo is taught Secret Sword in Pokémon Black 2 or White 2 or a Generation VI game, it will change into Resolute Form. If it forgets Secret Sword, it returns to Ordinary Form. Keldeo taught Secret Sword in Pokémon Black and White remain in Ordinary Form in other games.

Vivillon

Vivillon has 18 different distinct patterns depending on the set geographic location of its original Trainer's Nintendo 3DS. This form cannot be changed. The pattern of Vivillon encountered within a game is set when the save file is created.

Bred Scatterbug will evolve into Vivillon with the same pattern as that of the breeding player's game, regardless of its parents.

There are also two event-exclusive patterns, the Poké Ball Pattern and the Fancy Pattern. The Poké Ball Pattern resembles a standard Poké Ball, and was first distributed in Paris, France to promote the temporary Pokémon Center store. The Fancy Pattern was distributed via the Nintendo Network from July 8 to 31, 2014 to celebrate the GTS's 100 millionth Pokémon trade.

Flabébé, Floette, and Florges

Flabébé and Floette can hold five different-colored flowers based on the color of the flower bed they were caught in: red, yellow, orange, blue, and white. When Floette evolves into Florges, it maintains that color flower. The color of the flower cannot be changed.

In the storyline of X and Y, there is also a unique Floette who AZ befriended in ages past. The flower it wields has a different design than normal; it also has a blue, red, and white color instead of green, yellow, and white, reflecting the colors of the French national flag.

Aegislash

Aegislash, due to its Ability Stance Change, can change forms in battle depending on the move it uses. Initially in Shield Forme, using a damaging move will change it to Blade Forme, while using King's Shield will change it back into Shield Forme. Outside of battle it is always in Shield Forme.

Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist

Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist can be of Small, Average, Large and Super Size. Larger sizes of Pumpkaboo are rarer to encounter in the wild.

Different sizes have different base stats. For Pumpkaboo, with each increase in size, its base HP stat increases by 5 points while its base Speed stat decreases by 5 points. For Gourgeist, with each increase in size, its base HP stat increases by 10 points and its base Attack stat increases by 5 points while its base Speed stat decreases by 15 points. Consequently, the base stat total of a Pumpkaboo or Gourgeist does not vary with size.

Bred Pumpkaboo are the same size as their mother, or as the same form as the Pumpkaboo or Gourgeist parent if bred with Ditto.

Wild Super Size Pumpkaboo will always hold a Miracle Seed, whereas other sizes will never hold an item in the wild. Super Size variants have different, lower pitched cries than the other forms.

Only Average Size and Super Size Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist can have their Hidden Ability Insomnia. Average Size can be obtained with its Hidden Ability from the Friend Safari; Super Size can be obtained with its Hidden Ability as the Spooky 2014 Super Size Pumpkaboo.

Xerneas

Xerneas has two forms: Neutral Mode and Active Mode. There is no gameplay difference between them; Xerneas appears in Active Mode in battle, and appears in Neutral Mode in situations outside of battle, such as cutscenes, the Pokédex, the Pokémon screen, and Pokémon-Amie. According to the Pokédex, Xerneas shares everlasting life while it is in Active Mode.

Xerneas's horns and some highlights in its fur are light blue in Neutral Mode and light gold in Active Mode. In Active Mode, the protrusions on its horns also light up in several colors.